Atlas Lathe Restoration

This is an Atlas TH42 lathe made by the Atlas Press Company, made at the Kalamazoo Michigan plant. The model number indicates it was made after 1947, has roller-bearings in the head-stock, and uses changewheel screwcutting. It has a 42 inch bed with 30" capacity between the centers. More info on Atlas lathes is available here: http://www.lathes.co.uk/atlas/. I inherited this from my Great Uncle Wilfred. He was concerned about his shop tools going to good use after he left us, I think this one will go to very good use.

Original condition

Initial cleanup

A couple folks immediately took to the lathe with a wire brush and some 3-in-1 oil:

Oil applied, debris cleared off

Electrolysis rust removal

In order to facilitate major rust removal, we built an Electrolysis_Rust_Removal_System. Simply leave the part in the bucket of solution for 24 hours with voltage applied and out comes clean parts. Amazing! Here are some of the early results, compare to the very first photo at the top of this page. Also notice the tailstock center, the rust is removed but the missing metal can't be helped - but you can read the indicators on the shaft now.

Rust gone from chuck

Tailstock cleaned up

Before: tailstock center, dial indicator, and thread counter

After: tailstock center

After: cross-slide components

Getting it running

This project fell onto the back burner for a while but we're making progress on it again. I acquired a heavy table off craigslist which is large enough and can properly support the lathe. All we need is to get belts on it, redo the wiring, and we can start using it.